Video review of Tumulus and more
A video review of Tumulus, Doom Quest zine update, confirming critical hits, EP at Tabletop Bookshelf, and Apiary
Welcome to Exeunt Omnes, the official newsletter for loyal fans and sworn enemies of Exeunt Press, creator of games such as Exclusion Zone Botanist and Eleventh Beast. You can find digital games at games.exeunt.press and physical products at shop.exeunt.press.
TL;DR Summary
🩻 A review of Tumulus Issue 1
🎃 DOOM QUEST zine + solutions posted
💥 Should you confirm critical hits?
📒 EP in stock at Tabletop Bookshelf
🎲 Recently played: Apiary
🩻 A review of Tumulus Issue 1
Chanse Hungerford shared a thorough review of Tumulus Issue 1 on his YouTube channel: Tumulus - Zine for Tabletop Game Design. One thing I really appreciated about this review calling out how Tumulus has assignments and design exercises:
“One of the biggest hurdles for a lot of people who want to do game design is actually starting to do things that are creative. So there are a few things in here trying to reduce that barrier to just doing creative things — trying to exercise and grow that muscle.”
He mentioned that he has challenged himself to complete the assignments before receiving the next quarterly issue. This is wonderful!
One of my goals with Tumulus is to make something that is more than just passive reading. I want readers to read some design theory and then have a chance to try it in a simple and meaningful way.
Tumulus Issue 1 is shipping now, and Tumulus Issue 2 will begin shipping in March. I hope each issue inspires you to grow your creative muscles!
SUBSCRIBE: Tumulus from Skeleton Code Machine
🎃 DOOM QUEST zine + solutions posted
The solutions to MÖRKTOBER DOOM QUEST have been posted!
DOOM QUEST - An Offering of Sweet Honey has been updated to include all of the weekly clues as well as the solutions to all five puzzles. They are located at the back of the book, so careful about accidentally seeing them (spoilers). These could be easily dropped into most MÖRK BORG adventures.
I made sure the 52-page book was formatted for printing when I made it, so there's a good chance I might get a few printed. Watch the Exeunt Omnes mailing list to get notified when they are available. It'll be a limited run and sold via shop.exeunt.press.
Thank you again to everyone who participated last year!
PLAY: Doom Quest - An Offering of Sweet Honey by Exeunt Press
💥 Should you confirm critical hits?
I recently wrote about how Burning Banners has a mechanism to confirm critical hits when conducting combat. As always, the Skeleton Code Machine readers provided some really interesting thoughts in the comments. A comment from Michael Dozark stood out:
“I wonder if confirming crits would be better accepted if presented differently. For example, it sounds like Burning Banners could say something like "for each 7 or 8 rolled, you may roll an additional 1d6. Add any resulting successes to your total." Mechanically it ends up the same but you don't get the feeling of achieving something and having it taken away after.”
This makes a lot of sense to me. Just the phrasing of the rule changes the feeling and context of confirming critical hits. Presented as a “bonus” die to roll rather than taking something away makes it seem fun rather than punishing.
READ: Burning banners and confirming crits at Skeleton Code Machine
Skeleton Code Machine is an ENNIE-nominated weekly publication that explores tabletop game mechanisms. It’s been called a “Seemingly endless source of gaming ponderings” and a “Goldmine.” Check it out at www.skeletoncodemachine.com.
📒 EP in stock at Tabletop Bookshelf
Exeunt Press games are now available at Tabletop Bookshelf — an independent online-first bookstore featuring a curated selection of tabletop roleplaying games, solo games, and accessories. The first three games to be listed are Eleventh Beast, Exclusion Zone Botanist, and You are a Muffin, with more to follow.1
SHOP: Tabletop Bookshelf
🎲 Recently played: Apiary
Apiary (Vogelmann, 2023) is a game about “hyper-intelligent bees” who take to outer space to build, explore, and grow. While the premise might be silly, Apiary is a solid worker placement game and probably my favorite of the Stonemaier games.
Even at five players, the game moves quickly without excessive downtime. The mechanism where your bees increase in value until they hibernate is fun.2 And there always seem to be some good choices of things to do on your turn.
PLAY: Apiary published by Stonemaier Games
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- E.P. 💀
All Exeunt Press games are available in print at shop.exeunt.press.
Teotihuacan: City of Gods (Tascini, 2018) does something similar with the dice in that game. They increase in value, becoming more powerful until they reach six and then are lost. In both cases you get a bonus for doing this, so it doesn’t feel like a bad thing.